3AM Eternal: The Band, “Right As Rain” (1977)

Though The Band came to an end in a spectacular fashion with The Last Waltz, the band’s studio career ended rather unceremoniously in 1977 with Islands, an album that collected recent recordings as well as odds-and-sods outtakes that are far from the group’s best work. The highlight is this song, featuring a powerful vocal from Richard Manuel, and some funky Garth Hudson synth work. The song’s got a powerful easy listening vibe, too; the breezy harmonies and the laid-back saxophone make it more akin to Yacht Rock than the folk-rock sound they pioneered. Turns out they wouldn’t stay broken up, and would convene from time to time, until death claimed its primary members. Still, this isn’t a bad little number to chill out to.